EXTRA WIDENING

• Is defined as an increase in the width of the carriageway on circular

sections so that vehicles can negotiate the circular section smoothly.

• This means that drivers are able to steer the vehicle at a design speed.

• Extra widening in needed due to various reasons

EXTRA WIDENING

Reasons:

• Rigid base of vehicle: While negotiating a curve, the front axle wheels do not

follow the profile of the rare axle wheels due to the rigidity of the wheel base.

Requirement due to this reason is called mechanical widening.

• Phychological Effect: While negotiating a cruve the driver on the outer lane

tries to keep vehicle towards center line to maintain the safety of vehicle and

that on inner lane tries to move towards centerline to get higher visibility. This

necessities providing buffer space between two movements. This widening

requirement is known as phychological widening.

EXTRA WIDENING

Reasons:

• Off-tracking: Due to rigid wheelbase and truck trailer combination, the

trailer will take path on inner side, usually when slow moving at slow

speeds. This requires extra-widening on inner side of the curve.

• Skidding: When vehicle moves at a high speed while negotiating the

circular curve, the vehicle trajectory moves outwards due to centrifugal

force. This requires widening on the outer side of the curve.

EXTRA WIDENING

• Skidding &

• Off-tracking
EXTRA WIDENING

Implementation:

• No-extra widening is done if radius of the horizontal circular curve is 300

m or more.

• On single-lane road, mechanical widening ONLY be provided

• When the two vehicles cross each other in opposite direction then the vehicles outer

wheel uses the shoulder so that a clearance is maintained between the two vehicles

• This is due to insufficient width of the carriageway (3.0 to 3.75 m wide)

EXTRA WIDENING

Implementation:

• On a road with two (2)-lanes, full extra widening needs to be provided to

maintain the lateral clearance between the vehicles on the curve

• In case of multi-lane road, extra widening shall be equal to (number of

lanes x half of We for 2-lane road)

• For 2/4/6 lane highway

EXTRA WIDENING

Implementation:

• For other categories of roads and highways:

• Extra widening shall be provided at a uniform rate along the transition

curve. Full extra widening shall be made available at the start of the

horizontal curve.
EXTRA WIDENING

Implementation:
EXTRA WIDENING

Implementation:

• Either 1: In case of transition curve not provided between the tangent (or

straight section) and the horizontal circular curve then two-third (2/3rd) of

extra widening shall be attained at uniform rate on the straight section and

remaining one-third (1/3rd) on the circular curve

• Or 2: In such case, the extra widening shall be provided in full on the inner

side of the curve.

EXTRA WIDENING

Implementation:

• Under normal conditions, extra widening shall be done equally on both

sides of the curve, i.e. inner as well as outer.

• In case of hilly terrain and sections, it shall be done on the hill side rather

than the embankment (towards valley) side, due to the phychological

reasons of vehicles trying to remain towards hill side rather than

embankment side (to ensure safety).

EXTRA WIDENING

Implementation:
NUMERICAL

Example:

• Calculate the extra widening required for the two (2) lane road section

having traffic moving at a speed of 100 km/h. Assume the wheel base of a

design vehicle as 6 m. The radius of the circular curve is 100 m.

Solution:

We = [(2 x 62) / (2 x 100)] + [(0.1 x 100) / 1000.5]

= 0.36 + 1.0 = 1.36 m

NUMERICAL

Example:

• A single lane road having carriageway 3.75 m wide and shoulder 1.5 m wide
on either side of the carriageway has traffic moving with a speed of 40 km/h. A
circular curve of radius 60 m is provided on the road. Assuming the length of
the wheel base as 5 m, calculate the extra widening for this road section.

Solution: Extra widening on a single road shall be equal to that required due to
mechanical reasons.

We = [(1 x 52) / (2 x 600)]

= 0.0208 ~ 0.021 m
NUMERICAL

Example:

• A four (4) lane undivided section of a carriageway having traffic moving at a

speed of 60 km/h. A circular curve of radius 150 m is provided on this road.
Assuming the length of the well-base as 6.1 m, calculate extra widening for
this road.

Solution: Extra widening on multi-lane road shall be equal to the ‘n’ times of half
of We required for two-lane road.

For 2-lane We = [(1 x 6.12) / (2 x 150)] + [(0.1 x 60) / 1500.5] = 0.614 m

For 4-lane We = 0.5 x 0.614 x 4 = 1.228 m

TRANSITION CURVE

• Connects tangent section with circular curved section

• Radius of the transition section decreases from infinity at the tangent point

to a finite value when moved along the transition curve

• This means it changes from finite value to at the straight section to the

radius of the horizontal circular curve section at the start of the circular

curve

• This change of the rate of radius along the length of the transition curve

will depend upon on the shape of the transition curve or its equation
TRANSITION CURVE

• Need or function

• To provide smooth transition of radius from infinite to finite value (i.e. R)

• To provide smooth introduction of centrifugal force so that no jerk is faced

by the vehicle while commuting from transition to a circular curve section

• To provide smooth transition for implanting superelevation and extra

widening

• To enable the driver to steer the vehicle comfortably, safety, and smoothly

• To improve on the aesthetics of the tangent and circular curve connectivity

TRANSITION CURVE

Types of the transition curve – depends upon:

• The radius of the transition curve shall change gradually from infinite to finite

value so that centrifugal force does not act instantly causing steering of the

wheel difficult for a driver or an application of sudden jerk causing vehicle to

go out of control

• The rate of the change of centrifugal acceleration (due to change in the radius

of the curve) should be such that it does not cause discomfort and jerks etc.

• For this the radius of the curvature at a given speed shall be inversely

proportional to the radial acceleration.

TRANSITION CURVE

• Types of the transition curve – depends upon:

• Essential requirements: the radius of the curvature shall be inversely

proportional to the length of the transition curve from the start of the curve

• Suitable transition curve fulfilling the mentioned criteria:

• Spiral (also called Clothoid) as LR = constant

• Lemniscate

• Cubic parabolic
TRANSITION CURVE

• Types of the transition curve –

TRANSITION CURVE

• Suitable transition curve – Spiral

• Spiral curve satisfies the requirements of an idea shape of the transition curve

(satisfying criteria)

• Geometric properties of this curve are such that the calculations are simple and the

curve can be set in the field in an easy manner

• The product of length of the curve from the start point and the radius if the curve at

the point is content, i.e.

Ltp Rp = Constant
TRANSITION CURVE

• Length of Transition Curve (Lt): Criteria

• 1st criteria: Rate of change of centrifugal • 2nd criteria: Rate of change of

acceleration superelevation
TRANSITION CURVE

• Length of Transition Curve: Criteria

• 3rd certeria: Empirical:

• For Urban roads and Plan and Rolling terrain

Ls = 2.7 V2 / Rc

• For Hilly terrain

V2 / Rc

where: V design speed in km/h

Rc radius of the horizontal circular curve in m

TRANSITION CURVE

Length of Transition Curve

• Empirical formula are derived for two-lane roads, but can also be used for single-

lane and four (4)-lane divided roads sections.

• In case of four (4)-lane undivided and six (6)-lane divided highways the length shall

be increased by 50%

• The length of the transition curve shall be provided as the Maximum of the length

calculated by three criteria as discussed

TRANSITION CURVE LENGTH

• Expressways case
NUMERICAL

Example:

• A 2-lane, of 3.5 m wide, NH is passing through plain terrain. Design speed is 100

km/h. The radius of circular curve is 400 m. Length of wheel-base of the vehicle is

5.5 m. Maximum rate of superelevation is 7%. Assume the pavement is rotated

about the center line of the pavement. Calculate the length of the transition curve.

Solution:

• Length shall be maximum of three criteria.

NUMERICAL

Example:

Solution:

• Rate of change of superelevation Maximum = 150 for plan terrain

• As the radius of circular curve is 400 m, extra-widening We = NIL

• Length:

= 0.0215 x 1003 / 0.5 x 400 = 107.5 m

= 150 x 0.07 x 7.0 x 0.5 = 36.75 m

= 2.7 x 1002 / 400 = 67.5 m

Maximum is 107.5 m shall be provided as the length of the transition curve.

NUMERICAL

Example:

• A 4-lane, of 3.5 m wide, divided highway is passing through plain terrain. Design

speed is 80 km/h. The radius of circular curve is 300 m. Length of wheel-base of

the vehicle is 6.1 m. Rate of superelevation is 7%. Assume the pavement is rotated

about the outer edge of the pavement. Calculate the length of the transition curve.

Solution:

• Length shall be maximum of three criteria.

NUMERICAL

Example:

Solution:

• Rate of change of superelevation Maximum = 150 for plan terrain

• As the radius of circular curve is 400 m, extra-widening We = NIL

• Length:

= 0.0215 x 803 / 0.5161 x 300 = 71.10 m

= 150 x 0.07 x 14.0 x 1.0 = 147 m

= 2.7 x 802 / 300 = 57.6 m

Maximum is 147 m shall be provided as the length of the transition curve.

TRANSITION CURVE – DESIGN
ELEMENTS
• The deviation between circular curve and transition curve at the center of the

transition curve is defined as Shift

NUMERICAL

• Example:

• A 2-lane, of 3.5 m wide, road of NH category is to be laid in hilly terrain area which is snow

bound. Radius of the curve is 60 m and design speed is 40 km/h. Length of the wheel-base of a

vehicle is 6 m. Angle of deflection of tangents is 60°. Assume that the pavement is rotated about

the outer edge. Calculate (i) length of transition curve, (ii) length of the circular curve and total

curve, (iii) tangent length of the combination of circular and transition curve.

• Solution: two-lane road W = 7.0 m, R = 60 m, V = 40 km/h. hilly terrain N = Minimum 60, I = 6

m, Δ = 60°, e= 7%, number of lanes rotated n = 2

NUMERICAL

• Example:

• Solution:

• Length:

= 0.0215 x 403 / 0.6956 x 60 = 32.97 m

= 60 x 0.07 x (7.0+1.116) x 1.0 = 37.09 m

= 402 / 60 = 26.67 m

Maximum is 37.09 m shall be provided as the length of the transition curve.

Shift S = Lt2/ 24Rc = 37.092 / 24 x 60 = 0.955 m

Angle of transition curve = 0.30664 rad = 17.57° (I rad = 57.2958°)

NUMERICAL

• Example:

• Solution:

Angle of circular curve

Length of circular curve

Tangent length

T = 31.98 m

Length of total curve = 37.09 x 2 + 26.04 = 100.22 m

TRANSITION CURVE – COMPOUND
CURVE
• Length of transition curve between compound curves is the difference between the

lengths required for changing from tangent to a circular curve for each curve
TRANSITION CURVE – COMPOUND
CURVE
• For smooth transition between the curves, the minimum length of the transition
should at least 150 times the difference between the full superelevation of the two
curves

• A transition of least 30 m shall be inserted between the two curves

• The difference in the radius between the two curves shall not be more than 1.5
times the radius of sharper curve. If it is more, than it will result in sudden change in
the curvature

• If the difference is less then 0.50 times and the length of the transition curve come
out to be less than 30 m than change is superelevation, as required, shall be
affected on the flatter curve. In such a case, transition curve on horizontal
alignment may be omitted.
NUMERICAL

Example:

• A compound curve is to be placed in the field with radius of flatter curve as 500 m
and that of sharper curve as 350 m. The curve is to be designed for a speed of 80
km/h. Calculate the length of transition curve between the two circular circles.

Solution:

• Length =

Constant C = 80 / (75+V) = 80/(75+80) = 0.5161

Lt = [0.0215 x 803 / 0.5161] x (1/350 – 1/500) = 18.28 m

Minimum length of 30 m shall be provided between the two circular curves

TRANSITION CURVE – REVERSE
CURVE
TRANSITION CURVE – REVERSE
CURVE
• Transition curve shall be inserted in between the two circular curves placed in

opposite direction

• Length of the transition curve shall be the sum of the lengths required for both the

reverse curves
NUMERICAL

Example:

• A reverse curve is to be placed in the field with radius of first curve as 500 m and
that of second curve as 350 m. The curve is to be designed for a speed of 80 km/h.
Calculate the length of transition curve between the two circular curves.

Solution:

• Length =

Constant C = 80 / (75+V) = 80/(75+80) = 0.5161

Lt = [0.0215 x 803 / 0.5161] x (1/350 + 1/500) = 103.60 m

Length of 103.60 m > 30 m ∴ okay